16 Touches in 65 Minutes: Igor Thiago's Start Humiliated Brazil and Nobody's Ready For It

Alright, fam, listen up. The World Cup just kicked off for Brazil and if you weren't watching, buckle up, because it was a rough one. The Selecao, five-time champions, basically face-planted right out of the gate with a sputtering 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday evening. And the worst part? Striker Igor Thiago, the guy Carlo Ancelotti put up top, was practically invisible. The buzz right now isn't about the goal scorer, Vinicius Jr., it's all about why young gun Endrick didn't get a shot.

Brazil's World Cup Dream Gets a Cold Shower

Seriously, Brazil never just draws to start a World Cup, especially not against Morocco in Group C play. These are the guys who've lifted the trophy more than any other nation, so the expectation is always title contention. But at MetLife Stadium, Morocco straight up humbled them. They caused havoc in Brazil's midfield, forcing turnovers and shutting down attacking moves for most of the game. Ancelotti should consider himself lucky to even snag a point, because Morocco was the better side, no doubt. The biggest problem? Brazil's attacking threat was basically nonexistent. Thiago's ineffectiveness up front allowed Morocco to sag off him and focus entirely on Vinicius Jr., who, despite scoring a goal, couldn't get much else going against those defenders.

From Golden Boot Contender to Ghost on the Field

Remember Igor Thiago? The Brentford striker who just had a *sensational* Premier League season, racking up 22 goals in 38 matches, finishing second in the Golden Boot race behind Erling Haaland's 27? Yeah, *that* guy. Ancelotti started him at the top of a 4-4-2 alongside Vinicius Jr., with Vinicius given freedom to roam. But Thiago? Dude was a disaster against Morocco. And I'm not exaggerating. He ruined pretty much every attacking move he touched. He was either in dangerous shooting positions and blew it, or he tried to get involved in the buildup and straight up gave the ball away. The 24-year-old had a paltry 16 touches in 65 minutes, completing a measly five passes and taking only two shots. There was even a moment where he tried to let the ball run through his legs as a dummy for a teammate, and it rolled straight to a Morocco defender instead. His finishing was a mess, too. His two shots had a significant 0.59 xG value but only produced 0.15 xGOT. He missed an open header in the 14th minute and then fired a weak effort straight at the goalkeeper in the 52nd. Eventually, Ancelotti had to pull him, replacing him with Matheus Cunha, who at least brought some energy and skill as the game wound down. It's early, yeah, but for Brazil, this is more than just a disappointing result. It's a huge question mark hanging over Ancelotti's head and his starting choices. The fan base and media are already screaming for Endrick, and honestly, after that performance, who can blame them? What's at stake? The entire World Cup campaign, that's what. Get ready for more noise about the lineup, because Brazil needs to find some attacking spark, and fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.